Letter S met de zon 1639 - 1643

This is Claude Mellan's "Letter S met de zon," currently held at the Rijksmuseum, an engraving brimming with symbolic light. Notice the radiant sunburst emanating from behind the letter 'S.' In Mellan’s time, the sun was a potent emblem of divinity, knowledge, and life, often associated with monarchs and deities alike. This beaming ‘S’ is not merely a letter; it's an invocation of solar power, echoing ancient traditions where the sun embodies supreme authority. Consider, for instance, how Egyptian pharaohs identified with Ra, the sun god, or how Apollo in Greek mythology drove the sun chariot across the sky. The visual language carries an emotional resonance. This symbol is a collective memory of warmth, enlightenment, and power, engaging viewers on a subconscious level, triggering primal responses to light and authority. This symbol of light has been passed down through history, shifting in meaning. The cyclical journey of symbols is ever-evolving, resurfacing in new contexts, yet eternally echoing ancient truths.